Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-03

WORK OF THE SPECIAL SESSION.
The wisdom of the legislature, under the
impulse given that honorable body by the
voice OF the people and the Press OF the
Territory. has led to the happy result OF a
joint resolution limiting the life of the SEES.
sion to September 10th. This is ample
time for the remedial legislation contem-
plated by the call. II new legislation is en-
tered upon there would be no end to the
schemes that would BIZ sprung. Hence we
would nave a definite date fixed for ad-
iournment. The claim that tho blunders
OF the last session came from not having
time enough for consideration does not
apply, because the earlier days of the
session were frittered away in idle talk and
what legislation was effected was in the
last days of tho session. One scheme was
traded for another and no good results
were accomplished. We trust, therefore.
that the special session will be guided by
the lamp OF experience that the public
interest may be subserved.
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We are glad to note the fact that Mr..
Mantle has thus early in the session, intro
duced q bill to cure the evils, now so mani
fest, OF the lien law, which has already
done so much harm to our mining indus
try. The bill, as we understand it through
our special, eliminates all Of the objection
able features of the late law. We are con-
strained, therefore. TO believe that the
new bill must strike out all after the en-.
acting clause OF the old act.
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The proposed amendment to the license
law will exempt small boarding houses.
We are glad of this as they have
hard lines at best. License should be levied
on those necessary evils which tend to
populate penitentiaries and aims houses.
Crime, and the incentives thereto, ought to
be made to pay the penalties which crime
creates. This is a well settled principle of
public policy. Gambling houses, saloons
and houses Of i'll repute come under this
classification. Legitimate business OF every
class and condition ought to be exempt.
And this argument needs no high pressure
moral grounds for a basis to support it.
It is sound logic on it's own merits, and can
but commend itself to every we'll ordained
mind.
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The bill providing for the creation of the
Office OF Attorney General is a necessity
under the Revenue bill, as it now stands
ON tha atatute hoak- aa was --~l- ahown
in the message OF His Excellency, Govern.
Leslie. We do not know what action will
be taken at the special session on the Rev.
enue bill, but we trust that it will be 80
amended that taxes can be promptly col.
lected and county officers exempted from
the exactions put upon them by it's pro.
visions. As the law now stands on the
statute books. it is almost incapable OF
legal or judicial Interpretation on the basis
of equity. Something should be lone ut
this session to remedy these defects, some.
thing that will cure these defects which are
wholly evil.
-
There seems to be a disposition on the
part OF the legislature to spring the insane
asylum scheme. This is to be .deplored for
it will open the way to q number of other
schemes and the special session should be
confined solely to remedial legislation as
contemplated by the call of tie Executive,
as we have before shown. Besides such &C.
ton would be contrary to considerations of
good faith. The men who have the con-
tract for caring for the insane OF the Terri
tory are making extensive improvements
in the faith OF q contract which they had
every reason to believe would be 1000 for
two years. The Territory of Montana
cannot afford to %repudiate it's contracts, /
either express or implied. Reputation in
any form should be repulsive to the people |
OF this Territory.
We we're surprised last night to read in
our Helena special that the Hon. Tim Col
Inns had offered a bill for the creation OF the |
County OF Cascade. He is the member of
the Council from Choteau, which has SO
soundly and SO unanimously raised it's voice
against the scheme for the g%loriication of
Great Falls and it's monopolistic townsite
company, as is shown is our special from
Fort Benton this morning. This is a spe-
cies OF legislation not contemplated in the
call OF Governor Leslie, hut was unfortune-
ately left open by hie recommendation in
regard to the Insane Asylum scheme.
Should this county division scheme sue
coed, several others will be sprung aud the
special session is likely to extend to the
limit OF sixty days and much damage be
done the Territorial interests.
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1t was thoughtful and Enthusiastically
kind Of Commodore Hilger. of the ten-by-
twelve steamer, the Rose OF Helena, to
tender to the assembled Solons a season of
recreation from official work by an excur-
sion through the Gate OF the Mountains
a free for all trip across lots in the
Prickly Pear additions to the original town
site, by vehicular conveyance. This
thoughtfulness and consideration on the
part OF the Commodore may save some of
the members from cerebral congestion,
owing to their onerous and. oppressive at
tention to the public interest. We trust
Commodore Wheeler will be called |
into the service as aide-de-camp to Com
Hilger that nothing may be left
to make the trip a bowling success. ]
II any further assistance is needed, we {
would nominate Capt. Shepperd, OF our
city, to look specially after the Butte dele
CATION as Especial charge.
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The special session will not be devoid of
novelty since DR.. w. A. Burleigh has been
sworn in as a member of that august body.
The Doctor is nothing if not original. We {
shall expect him to spring his old scheme to
ross the wild-eyed buffalo with the mild {
eyed cow Of the range dairy and thereby I
a brand which can withstand the '
rigors OF a Montana winter. And ,
should he spring q scheme to cross
The coyote with the common cur for a bet
Ter breed OF dogs, the public may we'll be
prepared to stand the shock of a surprise f
IF which we forewarn them. That his com. 9
James A. Garlock is a profound 9
awyer, is true, but he is not subject to the f
lights OF genius which characterize D, 8
8urleigh's legislative career. d